An economist says dairy cattle genetics have made major strides over the past five years. Corey Geiger with CoBank says since 1965, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding has regularly adjusted genetic base evaluations to reflect progress. “Butterfat in Holsteins will shift by 45 pounds, and protein by 30 pounds, and that butterfat number’s almost double any number that’s…… Continue Reading
Some farmland sales eclipsing $20K per acre this spring
A farm real estate specialist says there have been some milestone farmland sales popping up across parts of the Midwest. Jim Rothermich with Iowa Appraisal says a 160-acre farm in northwestern Iowa recently sold for more than $21,000 per acre. “That’s one way to gauge how good the Iowa land market is doing is how…… Continue Reading
Cash rents could put farmers into the red
An ag economist says farm incomes could be negative for growers who rent a larger portion of their land. Gary Schnitkey with the University of Illinois tells Brownfield farmers could lose about $70 per acre given current commodity prices and an average cash rent of $340 per acre. “Land rental markets simply haven’t caught up to the…… Continue Reading
Don’t wait until April 15th to make ARC and PLC decisions
An ag economist at the University of Illinois says farmers shouldn’t wait until the deadline to enroll in risk management programs. Nick Paulson says considering this year’s commodity price expectations will help farmers choose between agriculture risk coverage or price loss coverage. “Every day these could change, every week these could change,” he says. “It’s…… Continue Reading
Nebraska farmer still faces long road of recovery from 2022 wildfire
A Southwest Nebraska farmer is still recovering from a 2022 wildfire. Jan TenBensel tells Brownfield the fire damage is unlike anything he’s ever seen. “That fire burned so hot it did something to the makeup of the ground and we’re really struggling to get that that fixed.” In April of 2022, a massive wildfire scorched…… Continue Reading
Purdue Ag Week is helping local communities fight food insecurity
The Purdue Ag Week Task Force packed a record number of meals during this year’s Hammer Down Hunger event to help fight food insecurity across the state. Marnie Schwartzkopf is the president of Purdue Ag Week. “We work to serve meals locally, nationally, and internationally,” she says. “This year we had a record number of over…… Continue Reading
Soybean growers brace for short and long-term trade war impacts
The American Soybean Association is concerned about how trade retaliation will impact farmer viability. Director of Government Affairs Virginia Houston tells Brownfield Chinese tariffs on U.S. soybeans have increased to about 60 percent after the latest retaliatory tariff announcement. “That’s an astronomically high rate for U.S. soy,” she says. “It’s almost double the rates that we…… Continue Reading
Some farm expansions happening despite down economy
An agricultural banker says some farm operations are borrowing for expansions despite the down farm economy and higher interest rates. Roger Sinkula with Nicolet National Bank tells Brownfield much of that expansion is in the dairy sector. “I see a couple of farmers that are expanding their heifer operation or are putting up some buildings…… Continue Reading
NCBA optimistic tariffs will help level the playing field for U.S. beef
The head lobbyist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says he’s optimistic the President’s tariff announcement will level the playing field for U.S. beef on the global market. Ethan Lane says American beef has been the target of unfair trade practices. “The President, in executing this tariff strategy, is attempting to fix some of those…… Continue Reading
Planning for tar spot
An agronomist with AgriGold says many farmers have tar spot on their mind. Brian Weihmeir, who covers central Illinois, says the yield robbing corn disease is at the forefront of many farmers plans for the 2025 growing season. “That kept a lot of growers looking at not only the hybrid selection standpoint, which has probably…… Continue Reading
